Luke Stapleford took an impressive win in this afternoon’s Supersport sprint race after a last gasp battle with World Supersport stars Can Öncü and Oli Bayliss.
From pole, the Scars-Racing Ducati rider got a bad start and dropped to fourth as Jack Kennedy took the lead as Öncü flew off the line from Row Two into second position.
Öncü took the lead on Lap Two as behind, Bayliss was making up ground after dropping to fifth in the opening lap, passing Dean Harrison for fourth on Lap Four while Stapleford was also playing catch up.
The points leader hit the front on Lap Six, passing Kennedy and Öncü in one move and led until Lap 10 when wildcard Öncü - standing in for Ben Currie on the McAMS Yamaha – took the lead once again. Bayliss was next to pass Stapleford, who then dropped to fourth as Kennedy came past.
On the penultimate lap it was Öncü first and Bayliss second but Stapleford soon scythed past Bayliss into P2 ahead of the start of the last lap.
It was clear Bayliss was not going to settle for third and made his move in the closing stages of the lap, passing Stapleford and then trying to pass Öncü – but both ran wide, Bayliss onto the grass and Öncü just wide enough for Stapleford to nip through.
Stapleford took the win, as Öncü was second as Bayliss recovered to finish third with Josh Whatley fourth and Kennedy fifth.
Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, Sprint result:
1. Luke Stapeford (Scars-Racing Ducati)
2. Can Öncü (McAMS Yamaha) +0.219s
3. Oli Bayliss (Triumph Macadam Factory Racing) +0.431s
4. Josh Whatley (XMT Racing) +1.044s
5. Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) +1.232s